Representatives from all branches of Bandai Namco Games have been traveling the world to show off Dragon Ball Xenoverse, the latest game in the epic DB series. Game producer Masayuki Hirano, in Goku’s trademark orange and blue gi, was at a Latin American event where Saida Herrero from La Casa De El had the opportunity to discuss the game. One of the interesting tidbits is characters can transform to Super Saiyan 3 (SS3), but not Super Saiyan 4. The original interview was published in Spanish, but Anime Games Online has translated the interview in English below.

La Casa De El: Has Akira Toriyama been involved with the game’s development?
Masayuki Hirano: The basic concept of the game and the script were presented to Toriyama so he is fully aware of the game’s development. He has actually overseen some of the unique characters in the game.

LCDE: Does the cancellation of Dragonball Online in 2013 have anything to do with the announcement of Dragon Ball Xenoverse?
MH: There is no relationship between the cancellation and annoucement. It is true that some of the details and characters are incorporated directly from Dragonball Online, but the structure, the concept, the story, and the atmosphere in general is new to Dragon Ball Xenoverse.

LCDE: Dragon Ball GT is making a return in this game with Super Saiyan 4, will we see all the iconic characters from GT?
MH: There will be many characters in the game and information about the roster will be announced slowly because we will be working on it until launch. Additionally, I have been asked a lot about DLC characters. If I receive many requests, maybe we could consider it. What we have presented thus far is not everything.

LCDE: How many playable characters are there total?
MH: This is the most difficult question to answer, but it’s a good question. To be honest, I can not specify a number right now because we’re still working on it, but we want them defined soon. Stay tuned to our announcements.

LCDE: How will the transformations of the characters work in combat?
MH: You transform to [Super Saiyan] level 1-3 during combat, but not to level 4 because in the original story itself that was not possible. In the original story, one would have to transform into a Golden Oozaru first.

LCDE: Could Dragon Ball Xenoverse become more than just a video game?
MH: The concepts and story presented in Dragon Ball Xenoverse are strictly for the game. Personally, I wish this was out of the game universe, but what happens in anime or manga is not up to me, I’m just a video game developer. Although, I think if a lot of fans requested it, that universe could be developed.

LCDE: What are your thoughts on the fact Dragon Ball has been in style for so many years?
MH: I think it has to do with the concept behind the battles of Dragon Ball. The characters are getting stronger as the story progresses and this is a concept that everyone can easily understand, regardless of culture. It’s very simple: I’m stronger, you are weaker, and we all understand that idea. I think it’s one of the reasons that it is still fashionable in any country.

LCDE: Thank you for your time.
MH: You, remember that Trunks figure is only available in the collector edition of the game! (Laughter)

Below are images of Super Saiyan 3 Goku throwing a Spirit Bomb along with a custom character wearing a Great Saiyaman outfit

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Dragon Ball Xenoverse will be making it’s way to the PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One and Xbox 360. It will offer in-game transformations, characters with the most detailed facial expressions ever seen in the Dragon Ball universe and new cel shaded graphics. Players will be able to create their own character and take it into battle to fight against familiar faces from the world of Dragon Ball and the created characters of other players online. Dragon Ball: Xenoverse is in development by Dimps (the company behind the Budokai series) and will be published by Bandai Namco Games in Japan on February 5th, Europe on February 13th and North America on February 17th.